Posted on 01/22/2007 8:34:05 PM PST by nickcarraway
The Open Source Development Labs and the Free Standards Group will merge to form the Linux Foundation in an effort to build strength and increase their influence.
Formed in 2000, the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) employs Linux founder Linus Torvalds.
The move to combine forces could strengthen the hand of the open-source operating system against Windows. Red Hat and Novell distribute Linux for free but charge for tech support. Oracle and SAP have championed Linux as an alternative to Microsoft Windows.
Both groups already have a large list of members. Combined, the Linux Foundation will have 70 sponsors, such as Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, IBM, Intel, NEC, Novell, and Oracle, among others. The group aims to promote adoption of the Linux operating system to more effectively compete against Microsoft’s Windows operating system.
The move by companies to Linux-based servers has seen faster adoption than desktop application, mainly because more companies are eager to migrate from UNIX to cut costs.
“The trend I’ve observed for desktop Linux is slow growth in numbers and relatively little gain in market share,” IDC analyst Michael Goulde said. “Server Linux is doing better, continuing to take share from proprietary UNIX and other operating systems, but not so much from Windows.”
Mr. Goulde said Linux on the desktop suffers from not enough “consumer-friendly” applications and multiple standards for desktops, such as Gnome and KDE. Both present difficulties in device support that have slowed the uptake.
Combining the Open Source Development Labs and the Free Standards Group into one organization could help Linux keep pace with market requirements.
The Linux Foundation will have experience driving the organization. Jim Zemlin, the former executive director for the Free Standards Group, will lead the new organization as executive director.
The OSDL was originally formed to improve the Linux operating system for high-end servers, but it later expanded into other areas.
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